US 6,140,896 A · Electro-mechanical reversing contactor with a single, common base

Abstract

An electro-mechanical reversing contactor is disclosed in which a single common base is molded to receive two contactor powerheads. The common base has a bottom surface and upwardly extending sides, with an upwardly extending center divider, thereby forming two powerhead sockets. Each powerhead socket is capable of receiving a powerhead therein. The common base also has a circuit board pocket to receive a single circuit board to control both contactor powerheads. The center divider has an upwardly extending interlock tower to receive an interlock pawl that is engageable with each of the contactor powerheads. The interlock mechanism mechanically prevents both contactors from being energized at the same time. The common base for two powerheads saves labor and material costs in assembling and installing a reversing contactor.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A reversing contactor comprising:

a single, common molded base having a plurality of upwardly extending sides and a center divider forming two powerhead sockets;
two powerheads, each powerhead having a housing, a set of stationary contacts mounted in the housing, a movable contact carrier having a set of movable contacts mounted thereon and in operable association with the stationary contacts, and an armature in movable relation with the movable contact carrier;
two coil and magnet assemblies, each situated in a respective powerhead socket of the single, common molded base to apply a magnetic force to a respective armature and thereby move a respective movable contact carrier between a contact open position and a contact closed position;
and
a single circuit board engageable with each coil and magnet assembly, and wherein the single, common molded base further comprises a circuit board pocket to receive the single circuit board therein.

2 more elements

A reversing contactor housing and interlock assembly comprising:

a molded base unit having a bottom surface, a plurality of upwardly extending sides integrally molded to the bottom surface, and a center divider, the center divider having molded therein an upwardly extending interlock tower;
a pawl receivable in the upwardly extending interlock tower and having a pair of outwardly extending interlock pins, each engageable with a powerhead such that when one powerhead is energized, another powerhead is mechanically prevented from energizing;
two coil and magnet assemblies, two powerheads, and a single circuit board connected to both powerheads;
and
wherein the molded base unit further comprises a circuit board pocket extending across one side of the molded base unit to receive therein the singly circuit board.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electro-mechanical reversing contactor with a single, common base

Life of this patent

Electro-mechanical reversing contactor with a single, common base

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18